Kiss of Death

Gotta love these gorgeous little black widows spiders! They will dress up your Halloween costume or make fun conversation pieces at the office. You can purchase them at my Etsy store, lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com

Koroit Opals

Another great find! I was on a hunt for Boulder Opals and checked out my usual sources but I just didn't see anything that caught my eye or the prices were so out of line it was unreal. I was just about ready to give up when I decided to check out Etsy and lo and behold I found a couple of Koroit Opals that I just had to have. Both of these Boulder Opals were cut and polished by fellow Etsy Artisan and gemologist Keith Cler, who's fascinating gemstones can be found at cutforyou.

I wire wrapped both of the Opals in gold filled wire and although the oblong stone has a very unique design and more flash, my personal favorite is the triangular piece. I love the color, the shape, and the way the finished piece looks. I had a "coffee date" last Friday and I wore this pendant and my Ammolite wire wrapped bracelet. I got a lot of compliments on both of them. Even I had to admit, I was styling. :)

Here is a picture of some of the pieces that I worked on during the week. the two pendants on the right are the finished pendants with the Koroit Opals. Click on the photo to see enlargement. You will have to excuse the picture. On rainy, gloomy days, indoor shots with the flash do not do the jewelry pieces justice.

An awesome find!

I was so ecstatic! Today started out as just another drippy, dreary day so I was looking for projects or something to do to break the boredom. I decided to clean the closet in my craft room..... ha! Major chore...... but wouldn't you know, as luck had it, I got diverted. While going through boxes, bins, bags, I ran across a plastic baggie Mom had sent me over a year ago that contained vintage jewelry that belonged to my Grandmother. The plan was to go through it and find pieces to take to Liza who owns Turtle Beads in Newport, Wa. She LOVES vintage beads and jewelry and has a special case just for her vintage stuff. As I was sifting through it I ran across a beautiful sterling silver piece that had a large Garnet on it. I don't know how I ever missed it the first time I rummaged through it as Garnet is my birthstone. It did not have a chain with it but I had just the beads for it. I had some small Garnet nuggets that I had been hanging on to for just the right piece. I added Tourmaline (another one of my gemstone loves,) some sterling silver accent beads and spacers, and some e beads.

Here is the finished piece and you betcha, I will wear it with fond memories of my Grandmother.

Time flies............

Time flies when you are busy doing the local craft fair circuit and making up things to keep up with the supply and demand. I was so looking forward to our local Oktoberfest on the 26th of this month but as it turned it was a lot of work for nothing..... it was a bust! Little to no promoting was done, people who called in wanting to be vendors were not called back. It was finally announced in the local paper the week of the event. Needless to say there were hardly any vendors and no crowd so to speak of. Hopefully next year it will be better because it is one of the local events that I really enjoy and look forward to.

Here are just a few of my creations that I had on display for sale.

More Peruvian Blue Opals

For those of you who have come to know (and love) me, you know my admiration of opals. I love opals of all types, sizes, shapes, colors. Ammolite and opals are my two favorite gemstones and when ever I run across them I will snatch them up and use them in my custom wire wrapped pieces. This time as I was searching online for supplies I ran across some gorgeous fan shaped Peruvian Opal gemstones. I swear, it was like finding hidden treasure!

This Peruvian Opal gemstone is 15x15mm. It is surrounded by a sterling silver wire wrapped setting and accented with 4mm Swarovski opal crystals and a 4mm frosted silver bead. It is currently for sale at my Etsy store, http://lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com/

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek. I appreciate your interest.

~LVS

How to make a traditional Red Heel Sock Stick Horse

Would you like to make a cute and inexpensive gift for your youngster, Grand baby, loved one, for Christmas? What child doesn't love the traditional stick horse. I made one and they are adorable. I have put together pictures and instructions that are easy for you to follow so you can make one yourself. Of course if you prefer I do sell these. I will have these for sale at the Priest River Christmas Craft Fair at the elementary School on Hwy. 2. The craft fair is from 9-4 on November 7th, 2009. For more information feel free to contact me.

The directions to make the stick sock horse can be found on my Latest News from Lady V's Blog or click this link to go there.

These are fairly easy and fast to put together. Have fun and Enjoy!

LVS

Harley's Debut

Sock monkey's are fun, without a doubt, but I wanted to make a sock critter that was unique and more geared towards the animals that you would see up here in the north country. We don't see a lot of monkey's swinging from the trees around here... perhaps it's the lack of bananas?

I've must admit, I've been intrigued with moose, ever since that one spent the night in my backyard last winter. I even made a polymer clay moose sculpture (pic is on my Flickr page.) I got a wild hair and decided I'd try my hand at making a sock moosie. Here is my finished project. I am sure it will get altered a bit here and there as I make more, but all in all I think he turned out pretty cute for my first attempt (and without a pattern even!)

Thank goodness the dollar store got in a new shipment of the black and red heel boot socks. I have a feeling I will be using up a bunch of them over the next few weeks, rofl.

I named the moose Harley. I have all good intentions of making him a black leather vest. He looked like a "biker type" of dude moose to me. Funny the pictures that we get in our head as we are creating.

Be sure you check back for blog updates and more North Country sock critters. Hey, I'm on a roll! ROFL. Need I say any more? Harley is currently for sale at my Etsy store.

Ciao

More Monkey Maddness!

First a little bit of sock monkey lore, from Wikipedia. John Nelson, a swedish immigrant, patented the first sock knitting maching in 1869 and began making work socks in Rockford, Illinois in 1890. Sock monkeys first emerged in 1932, the year Nelson added his trademarked red heels to his socks.

In 2005 the first "Sock Monkey Maddness festival was held at the Midway Village and Museum in Rockford, Illinois. The continued popularity encouraged the city of Rockford, Illinois to embrace the doll as part of its history. The festival has now become an annual event. The event draws 1500 people and continues to grow in attendance each year. More sock monkey lore can be found by reading the Wikipedia online article on sock monkeys.

Make no doubt about it, sock monkey's are a loveable and adorable American mascot! If you read the comments posted on my "very first sock monkey" you will see Granny Jan's (Sock Monkey Ranch) comment saying, "Fair warning, once you make one you are hooked!" She was so right. I love making these whimsical little creatures. Each takes on a personality all of it's own. I've included her link above. Talk about some adorable sock monkeys. You've got to check them out!

Here is my own sock monkey that I made with a pair of boot socks I found yesterday. Not the traditional red heeled sock monkey, but a cute little guy, I think. Next I will be working on making them some outfits. I mean you can't let your monkey run around in putblic naked now, can you? ROFL. Check back to see what other monkey tales await.

And many thanks to all of my new monkey pals who have offered such wonderful tips, words of advice, encouragement and praise. It's so appreciated. :)

Mojo the monkey is currently for sale at my Etsy store.

Sock Monkey Maddness!

As long as I can remember I have always loved sock monkey's. They are simplistic, wimsical, and they make great, affordable Christmas gifts (and gifts year around) for youngsters and teens. Add a sock monkey outfit and sock monkey's make a unique gift for adults too! I have always wanted a sock monkey. This year I decided to buy some for my Grand Kids. MamaMelLoves has some adorable sock monkey's at great prices. I found a sock monkey kit at sockmonkey.net that comes complete with an adoption certificate. I purchased one because I thought it was a great way for people to learn how to make sock monkey's and the price was reasonable enough..... and in the back of my mind I am thinking, YES! Finally my very own sock monkey, lol! Some kids never grow up. Now to make it (and the Grand kids monkey's) outfits. AuntyAnnsDesigns sells both sock monkey patterns and completed outfits for the traditional sock monkey's. You have to check them out.... cute! And need a source to buy the red heel socks? Monkey socks has the best prices I have found so far unless you want to purchase bulk on Ebay. Also, I just found sock monkey kits sold at Target for $13.99 (enough to make 2 sock monkey's.)

Talk about sock monkey maddness, rofl!!!!! If all goes well I will make a few up to sell at our local Christmas craft fair November 30th. I've posted some of my favorite links (above) for you other sock monkey lovers. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

All in a day........

It's a busy time of the year for the local Artisans and crafters of Priest River and Newport. During the summer and early fall it is the busiest time of the year for our area's craft fairs and shows. We need to make our money while we can. Far too soon it will be snowing again and we will be socked in for months. By the end of October we can pretty much figure it is time to pack it in for the winter.

I decided to get a booth this year even though the economy has been so bad. Much to my surprise sales have been pretty good. I am selling it as fast as I can make it. It sure beats listing stuff and having it sit for months and months in my Etsy shop. I will definitely be making some much needed changes in 2010.

Here are some pictures of a few of the gem stones that I did up to sell at the booth this weekend. The largest piece is a Druzy with crystal formations. The two smaller gem stones are Boulder Opals. You can see the vivid flash in both of them. What beautiful stones. The larger blue stone is Blue Lace Agate, another beauty. All are wrapped in sterling silver or gold filled wire.

If you have any questions regarding any of my creations please do

not hesitate to contact me. lvsbeadsnthings@aol.com

Dogs gone WILD!

Dogs gone wild? By the looks of it, perhaps some of them anyway. For others? Their stuffed doggie toy seems to be almost therapeutic, comforting, as shown by the picture of Azul, the Great Dane, (right.)

I breed and train AKC Siberian huskies. Originally I made these toys for the new arrivals. It not only gave them something to play with, but something to chew on as well, which saved the furniture. When it comes time for the pups to

leave, I send them off with one, so he/she would be less stressed going off to their new home. They have something "familiar" that they can associate with.

This stuffed dog toy is wonderful for teething puppies or dogs that love to chew! It doesn't matter if they are
big or they are small, as you can see.The bone is made of industrial

fleece and has a knotted cord tied around it. It is like two toys built into one. It has been thoroughly puppy tested (by pups of all sizes, shapes, breeds,) and passed with flying colors.

Our special thanks to Kevin (KanYoFuse.etsy.com)

for sending

us his picture of Azul (the Great Dane.)

Also to Sharon (sharonkaydesigns.etsy.com) for sending us her picture of Labisha (shown to the right.) And, lastly, to Tina (TheShabbyShop.etsy.com) who's poochie (below) refuses to give it's bone up, lol.

The doggie toys are available at my Etsy store lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com

10% from each sale will be donated to our local Priest River Animal Rescue, PRAR, www.pranimalrescue.org. They are located at 1042

Albani Hwy., Priest River, ID. 83856